Game apparatus.



Patented Dec. 30, I902.

u mass.

E. S. ELLIS.

GAME APPARATUS.

(Application mad Sept. 19, 1902.)

(in Model.)

witheoow C 4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD S. ELLIS, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY.

'GAME APPARATUS.

Q SPEGIFIOATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 717,366, datedDecember 30, 1902.

Application filed September 19, 1902 Serial No. 124,011. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, EDWARD S. ELLIs,-a

citizen of the United States, residing in Montclair, in the county ofEssex and State of New Jersey, have invented'certain new and usefulImprovements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to an improved game apparatus which is in thenature of the wellknown game of ping-pong, in which a table, balls, andrackets are emp1oyed,but which obviates the monotony of the game ofpingpong by so pplyingagreater varietyof runs, so as to be moreentertaining and attractive; and the invention consists of a gameapparatus which comprises a rectangular: table divided into fields,contiguous arches formed of thin 'metal and extending transversely ofthe table, a base-plate supporting said arches, said base-plate beingturned down at its ends, clamping-screws in said ends for clamping thebase-plate on the table, and cushion devices on said screws, as will befully described hereinafter and finally pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of myimproved game apparatus. Fig. 2 is a side view of the detachable arches,and Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a side view of the racket and of theball used in my improved game.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a table, which forms the supportof my improved game apparatus. This table may be an ordinary plain tableor a specially-constructed folding table, such as is used in thewell-known game of ping-pong. The table is divided by transverse linesinto four fields. At the transverse center line of the table is arrangeda transverse metallic band or baseplate B, which is bent in downwarddirection at the ends and attached by means of clamping-screws .to thetable A. Between the clamping-screws and the edge of the table arepreferably interposed two suitable cushioning devices 01, so as toprevent the clamping-screws from marring the edge of the table. On themetallic band B are supported a plurality of arches O, of which fiv'eare shown in the drawings, said arches being about six inches in widthand fifteen inches high. They are preferably formed either of wire or ofsheet metal, so as to offer the least possible obstruction or impedimentto the passage of the ball.

The playing is accomplished by striking a regulation-ball O with aracket, preferably as shown in Fig. 3. The playing of the balls has tobe done in the end panels a a, and they should never be played from theintermediate fields b I), thus imposing arestriction. The ordinaryping-pong balls can be used with my improved game apparatus, the objectof which is to play the balls successively through the spaces inclosedby the arches.

The game is played by two persons according to the following rules: Acomplete game consists of a single run, which consists in bounding theball successively through the plurality of arches, beginning from theleft toward the right, in regular succession without break. A grand runconsists in sending the ball twice through each arch in the same manner,and a royal run consists in bounding the ball three times in regularsuccession without break through the arches. Either one of the playersis allowed to play from any part of the spaces or'fields a a.

When the player who opens the gamei. e., the server or opener-has passedthe ball through the five arches in the regular order, so as to completea single run, he is entitled to again serve before beginning the secondor grand run and similarly before beginning the third or royal run. Theopponent has to return the ball to the player who opens the game. Theopponent has the right to do so through any one of the arch es. Whenever the opener fails to drive the ball through the proper arch, theball passes to his opponent, who is entitled to score in his favor allthe points made by the opener. When the opponent makes a similarfailure, the opener is entitled to count all the points already made bythe two together to himself.- Change of ball takes place whenevereitherplayer makes a break,.and in every instance when the player takesthe ball he. is entitledto all the scores that the two together havepreviously made. The player who last passes the ball properly therequired number of times 7 through the proper arches wins. The game maybe considered complete at the end of a single run, a grand run, or, whenthe players are sufficiently expert, at the end of a royal run. Theopener of the game is determined by lot at the beginning, after whichthe opening is arranged alternately.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent In a game apparatus, the combination, with a flat-toprectangular table divided into fields, of contiguous arches formed ofthin metal and extending transversely of the table, a base-platesupporting said arches, said baseplate being turned down at its ends,clamping-screws in said ends for clamping the baseplate on the table,and cushion devices on said screws, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention 1 have signed myname in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD S. ELLIS.

Witnesses:

RALPH S. NORTON, ALBERT B. HALL.

